The Nigeria Data Protection Commission has signed separate memoranda of understanding with the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to strengthen data protection and privacy.

The MoUs are meant to ensure data protection across Nigeria’s public sector and subnational institutions.

Itunu Dosekun, head of the commission’s media unit, said this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

Vincent Olatunji, the national commissioner of NDPC, said that data privacy was a global imperative for building trust and credibility within the digital ecosystem at the signing of the BPP.

Mr Olatunji commended the leadership of BPP for prioritising privacy and data governance, adding that the commission remained committed to supporting the integration of robust data protection standards within Nigeria’s procurement sector.

“Data privacy is a global imperative for building trust, confidence and credibility within the digital ecosystem. The NDPC remains committed to supporting the integration of robust data protection standards within Nigeria’s procurement sector,” he said.

Adebowale Adedokun, director-general of the BPP, reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to ethical data management and compliance with global best practices.

According to him, unlawful disclosure of government information remains a criminal offence, stressing the need to strengthen safeguards for sensitive information as technology adoption increases.

“As we embrace technology, there is a growing need to strengthen safeguards for the protection of sensitive information,” he said.

As part of the collaboration, the NDPC offered 50 Virtual Privacy Academy vouchers to BPP staff to support capacity building in data protection and privacy.

Mr Adedokun welcomed the initiative and proposed broader training opportunities for the bureau’s 453 procurement officers nationwide.

In a related development, the NDPC also signed an MoU with the NGF to deepen data protection and privacy at the state level.

Mr Olatunji said compliance with data protection obligations was critical to strengthening privacy frameworks across states and accelerating nationwide adoption.

He added that effective data governance would also enhance investor confidence and attract foreign direct investment.

The director-general of the NGF, Abdulateef Shittu, described the partnership as a strategic step toward securing Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and advancing responsible data governance at the subnational level.

“This partnership with the NDPC is a strategic step towards securing Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and advancing responsible data governance at the subnational level,” he said.

The commission said working groups had been established with both the BPP and NGF to develop actionable frameworks for the smooth implementation of the agreements. 

(NAN)